Ever since 2010, there have been far fewer appearances from the crew of the DenLiner and its rowdy passengers, the Imagin. Still, every chance Toei got to bring the beloved cast back was not turned away. 2011 was the 40th anniversary of the birth of the Kamen Rider franchise, and Toei knew that one of the best ways to celebrate would be to make a film featuring all of the Riders. Especially following the huge success of Kamen Rider Decade The Movie: All Riders Vs. Great Shocker, it was deemed wise to make a new film with the original Riders. For the sake of synergy, this film was to star their newest Kamen Rider: Kamen Rider OOO, but OOO would crossover with another Rider many had become extremely familiar with.
OOO, DEN-O, ALL RIDERS: LET'S GO, KAMEN RIDERS
Original theatrical poster for Den-O's eighth film
The resulting film was directed by Osamu Kaneda, who had previously directed four of the first seven Den-O movies. Oddly enough, Yasuko Kobayashi, head writer of both Den-O and OOO did not write the movie. Instead the film was written by the head writer of Kamen Rider Decade's second half and the writer of Episode Yellow of the Chou Den-O Trilogy: Shoji Yonemura. Toei probably felt that because the duo delivered All Riders Vs. Great Shocker meant that they would strike gold twice. For the most part, Toei was right. When it opened on April 1st, 2011 (two days before Kamen Rider's 40th anniversary: the date episode 1 of the original series aired), the film easily won the weekend at the box office for two straight weeks for a final gross of over $17 million USD. Despite its strong box office success, the film itself doesn't completely live up to snuff.
Eiji Hino is fighting strange new monsters who seem to not be Yummies, his enemies. Instead, the monsters are Imagin, as confirmed by the sudden appearance of Kotaro Nogami and Teddy from the DenLiner. The Imagin escape into a boy, whose memories somehow date back to 1971. They don't ask questions, and New Den-O travels back to 1971 with Eiji and Ankh in tow. Ankh uses this opportunity to try and steal Core Medals from the still-sleeping Greeed, but Eiji catches on and he is caught. During the struggle, he loses a Cell Medal which is accidentally left behind. The Medal is picked up by a minion of Shocker, who brings it back to his leader.
Everyone returns to the present, but everything seems off. Soon, Eiji realizes that Shocker has taken over Japan after they used Ankh's Core Medal to create a monster so powerful that it defeated the original two Kamen Riders. With the two Riders now under their control, Shocker rules with an iron fist and hunts our heroes down. Eiji, the Imagin, Ankh, Kotaro, and a few boys they've befriended travel back to 1971 to prevent this from happening, but complications ensue. Teaming up with the Kamen Rider Scouts and the original Riders, our heroes face off against Shocker....but things take a turn for the worse.
Let's Go, Kamen Riders has an awesome first 70 minutes. The film serves as the first legitimate crossover between Den-O and another Rider series, and it's nice to see OOO's cast actually be given stuff to do. The stakes are high in this film as well; the DenLiner is put in grave danger and Shocker's plans constantly work. It is also a treat to hear Hiroshi Fujioka, Takeshi Sasaki, and Goro Naya reprise their iconic roles from the original series, as well as other actors reprise their roles: including brief cameos from V3 and W. However, the film completely falls apart in its last act. Every Rider appears, but they act like nothing more than just random people in costume trying to act like these characters, the fight gets ridiculous, (flying motorcycles, anyone?) the story completely gives up on making sense, and the ending is absolutely inconclusive. Sadly, this awful ending cripples an otherwise solid film.
OOO, DEN-O, ALL RIDERS: LET'S GO KAMEN RIDERS NET MOVIES ~LET'S LOOK! ONLY YOUR 48 RIDERS~
Logo for the Let's Go Kamen Riders Net Movies
In conjunction with the release of the new film, Toei released shorts on the Internet once a week for several weeks starting on March 11, 2011 until there were 48 in the series. These shorts are split up into 8 different formats, with each episode hosted by one of the Momotaros, Urataros, Sieg, and Kivat. At the end of every episode, one of the hosts will do a Horoscope reading and match the Rider that's focused on in the episode with another compatible Rider and/or form.
As someone who doesn't really buy into Astrology, I found these shorts really boring and easily some of the weakest Net Movies yet. At a total of 48, the vignettes quickly get repetitive after a while and the jokes start to become stale. There are still a few funny ones scattered throughout (namely any of the shorts featuring speeches from the Rider, and many meta jokes are shared), but overall these Net Movies are mostly a waste of time.
KAMEN RIDER X SUPER SENTAI: SUPER HERO WAR
Original theatrical poster
Following the massive success of the 35th and 40th anniversary projects of Super Sentai and Kamen Rider the previous year, Toei decided it was time to step it up with their crossovers. However, the only way to exceed what the previous year accomplished was to have both franchises appear in a mega crossover film. That dream came true on April 21, 2012 when Kamen Rider x Super Sentai: Super Hero War was released and became another box office hit. Directed and written once again by the duo behind OOO, Den-O, All Riders, this film promised one of the grandest crossovers ever created. The final result was far, far from the truth. (Note: The film doesn't feature the Imagin and the DenLiner crew prominently; they are only supporting characters in this film. The film instead focuses mainly on the casts of Kamen Rider Decade and Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, with supporting roles from the leads of Kamen Rider Fourze, Kamen Rider OOO, and Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters. Still, most of the Den-O cast is here and get a fair amount of screen time, which is why I'm including it in this retrospective.)
The film begins with GokaiRed challenging the Seven Legendary Riders to a duel to the death, which he wins handily after claiming he will wipe out all Riders. Kamen Rider Decade appears and then challenges GokaiRed, claiming he will destroy all Sentai. GokaiRed teams up with the revived Zangyack Empire while Decade joins forces with Super Shocker, and all-out war breaks out. As the Riders and Sentai continue to be defeated and killed, the surviving Gokaigers (Green and Blue), Kamen Rider Diend, and Hina (from Kamen Rider OOO) try to figure out why these heroes that used to fight for justice are destroying each other. Meanwhile, the Zangyack Empire and Super Shocker, led by Decade's arch-nemesis Narutaki, plan to double-cross the heroes.
Along the way, the Gokai Galleon runs into the DenLiner. There, Owner explains the motives behind the rivalry between the Sentai and Riders. They drop everyone off at 1971, with our ragtag gang of survivors hoping to grab Kamen Rider #1 and convince him to make peace with Goranger's Akaranger. When this tactic falls apart, GokaiRed and Decade begin their final duel.
Right from the start, there is one problem with this film. Why do Decade and GokaiRed feel the need to kill everyone? If there's obviously a grudge between the two, why don't they just settle it personally? I know it's all part of a bigger picture, but the plan is flawed. Also, the movie has very little in the way of any sort of substance. Pretty much the entire plot of the movie involves shouting at Decade and GokaiRed to explain themselves, to no avail until the last 15 minutes of the movie. The climax has some great moments, although it is quickly ruined by Diend's last-minute turn that makes absolutely no sense in context with the film (gee, this sounds familiar). Overall, Super Hero War is nothing more than glorified fan fiction, and Den-O's lengthy cameo here is sadly too brief.
KAMEN RIDER X SUPER SENTAI NET MOVIES: SUPER HERO TROUBLE ~WHO IS THE CULPRIT?~
Logo for the Super Hero War tie-in Net Movies
In this series of 10 webisodes that began being released on April 1st, 2012, all 4 segments have a mystery theme. In the segments directly involving Den-O, GokaiSilver runs to the Narumi Detective Agency from Kamen Rider W, trying to get questions about each franchise solved. However, instead of Shotaro and Phillip, the agency is being run by Narutaki and Urataros. They answer GokaiSilver's questions by constantly breaking the fourth wall, such as explaining the name origins of Dairanger and Hurricanger, plus what Owner meant when he said (during the film itself) Super Sentai replaced Kamen Rider in 1975.
Other segments include Kamen Rider Fourze's Hayami recruiting Go-Busters' Buddyroids to help him decipher mysterious messages, Kamen Rider Fourze solving the "murders" of past Kamen Riders, and the Go-Busters trying to find out who is "killing" Sentai heroines. These shorts are consistently funny and informative unlike the Let's Go Kamen Riders Net Movies. This is mostly thanks to fourth-wall breaking jokes involving Hayami "remembering" that he's Kamen Rider Garren, slight references to Power Rangers and Akibaranger, and exposing the friendly rivalry between suit actors Kamen Rider Seiji Takaiwa and Eitoku.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Takeru Satoh/Ryotarou - Between the second and third Den-O films, Satoh got a leading role in the hit J-drama series ROOKIES. Between these two roles, Satoh quickly became an incredibly sought-after actor. Since retiring from his role of Ryotarou, Takeru Satoh has starred in numerous hit TV shows and movies. These include starring roles in the J-drama series Mei-chan no Shitsuji and Bloody Monday, and films such as the ROOKIES movie, TRICK 3, BECK, and Rurouni Kenshin. In 2013, Satoh will star in the movie Kanojo wa Uso o Aishisugiteru this December, and he can currently be seen in the highly rated J-drama series Tonbi, which started airing last month on TBS.
Yuriko Shiratori/Hana - The female lead of Kamen Rider Den-O who can't return to her own time, Hana was played by model Yuriko Shiratori for the first 32 episodes and the first movie. During the series, Shiratori fell ill due to overworking herself, and got time off. According to certain rumors, she received many terrible threats for taking a break and, feeling scared, quit acting after starring in the 2008 film Urahara. She has released a handful of photobooks over the last few years, but for the most part she has retired from the industry.
Tamaki Matsumoto/Kohana - Replacing Yuriko Shiratori was the young actress Tamaki Matsumoto, and for the rest of the series and all future movie appearances involving the character, Hana would be played be her. Since then, Matsumoto (now 14) has only had a handful of dubbing roles, including Tianzi from Code Geass R2 and Young Ellie in the Japanese dub of Disney/Pixar's Up. She has also appeared in all 3 live action films based on 20th Century Boys.
Rina Akiyama/Naomi - One of the few live action actors who has continuously come back for more Den-O, Akiyama played the energetic coffee maid Naomi. Already having starred in a few previous tokusatsu shows (she was Mana in Kamen Rider Agito) it's not surprising that she's become a toku veteran. Akiyama is perhaps best known overseas for being a gravure model, having been called the "Queen of the Beautiful Butt" for her numerous DVDs and photobooks displaying her ample rear-end. She also starred in the 2010 horror-action film Psycho Gothic Lolita.
Kenjiro Ishimaru/Owner - The other live action actor who consistently keeps showing up is Kenjiro Ishimaru, who plays the man behind the DenLiner, simply known as Owner. Kenjiro Ishimaru's also a toku veteran, having appeared in Gamera 3, Gamera The Brave, and the live action Kekko Kamen movies before starring in Den-O. Since the TV series, he has appeared in a couple of Sasuke (Ninja Warrior) competitions, and can be heard every week as the narrator on the long-running Shonen Jump/Toei anime series Toriko.
Wakana Matsumoto/Airi - Ryotarou's sister who was once engaged to the future self of Sakurai Yuuto and owner of the Milk Dipper coffee shop was played by Wakana Matsumoto. Another popular gravure model, Matsumoto hasn't had another recurring role in a TV series, but she has guest starred in numerous J-dramas. In fact, Matsumoto just recently guest starred in episodes 6 and 7 of the newest Kamen Rider series Kamen Rider Wizard as a con-artist.
Yuichi Nakamura/Sakurai - Nakamura was another toku veteran by the time he joined the cast of Den-O. He had previously appeared as Asumu's self-appointed rival Kiriya in the later episodes of Kamen Rider Hibiki. He has since appeared in quite a few J-dramas, including the starring role of the live action version of Moyashimon, and a supporting role on Twin Spica. As for films, he has appeared in Wangan Midnight and Shakariki (This Yuichi Nakamura is not to be confused with the Yuichi Nakamura who voices Beet J. Stag in Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters).
Dori Sakurada/Kotaro - Ryotarou's grandson Kotaro/New Den-O has appeared several times since his first appearance in the third film, virtually making him a permanent member of the cast. Aside from his appearances in the franchise, Sakurada has appeared in films such as BECK and Osama Game. TV show appearances include leading roles in Suugaku Joshi Gakuen and Sign. He has also appeared in music videos for AKB48 and monobright.
THE LEGACY OF DEN-O
It goes without saying that Toei and Bandai owe a lot to the brilliant creation of Kamen Rider Den-O. The constant appearances from the beloved cast kept interest in the Heisei series going for a few years, and toy sales exceeded 11 billion yen. Den-O was also one of the most parodied and referenced toku shows in quite some time, with direct references to either the catchphrases or characters in anime such as Hayate the Combat Butler, Sgt. Frog, and Lucky Star. The amount of attention paid to it by other anime at this time is a clear indicator of its popularity, in case if the financial success of its toys and movies weren't enough.
Toei has learned some lessons from Kamen Rider Den-O as well. Since this series, Kamen Rider shows as a whole have shifted away from heavy drama and more into light comedy and episodic adventures with only hints of a deeper story. Den-O's gimmick was blatantly copied in next year's Kamen Rider Kiva with far less successful results, culminating in the concept of Wataru gaining forms from his supernatural friends being abandoned entirely by the show's end.
Since no original Den-O character appears in character in Super Hero War Z, it seems the era of Den-O has finally passed. It lasted 5 years and was fun for some time, but it truly was about time that the DenLiner was given a rest stop for a while. Besides, it won't be permanent. Namco Bandai recently announced that the four main Imagin, Teddy, and Kotaro's original actors would reprise their respective roles in Kamen Rider: Battride War. So, Den-O will always be around in one form or another. And one day, the crew and passengers of the DenLiner will probably embark on another time tripping ride. After all, the climax can never end.
Special Thanks to: Henshin Grid, the numerous sources I bummed these images from, Asian Wiki, Drama Wiki, Yuriko Shiratori's blog, Toei, Namco Bandai, Shotaro Ishinomori, and TV-Nihon
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